Chinese women's soccer team coach Jia Xiuquan (C) gives instructions during a training session in Albufeira, Portugal, Feb. 26, 2019. The 2019 Algarve Cup will be held in Algarve of Portugal from Feb. 27 to March 6, 2019. Chinese women's soccer team will face their first opponent the Norwegian team on March 1. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
China women's football team are quarantined in Australia ahead of Olympic qualifiers
By Sportswriters Xiao Shiyao, Yue Dongxing and Gong Bing
BRISBANE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Football Association (CFA) vice president Sun Wen told Xinhua here on Thursday that the Chinese women's national team will strictly fulfill all quarantine requirements from Australian authorities amid the concerns of coronavirus outbreak, urging for joint efforts to ensure that the team's training activities for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers can take place.
Sun led a team of 32 members which arrived at Brisbane on Wednesday morning for the Tokyo Olympic women's football qualifying matches, which are scheduled to be hosted in Sydney from February 3 to 9. The whole team has been placed in isolation in the hotel by local authorities since arrival, over concerns about the possible spread of the 2019-nCoV virus.
Chinese women's soccer player Wu Haiyan takes part in a training session in Albufeira, Portugal, Feb. 26, 2019. The 2019 Algarve Cup will be held in Algarve of Portugal from Feb. 27 to March 6, 2019. Chinese women's soccer team will face their first opponent the Norwegian team on March 1. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young told local media that the team travelled from the outbreak epicenter Wuhan and as a result was asked to be quarantined until February 5. "They have been extremely cooperative. There is absolutely no risk to anyone else in that hotel," she added.
"We need to be isolated until February 5. Both the CFA and the Football Federation Australia (FFA) had the intention to postpone the matches. The tournament will definitely be delayed for several days, but the process takes time," said Sun, while the FFA spokesman also told Xinhua on Wednesday that the schedule will probably be adjusted.
The important Olympic qualifications, with China, Australia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand included in group B, were originally set to be held in Wuhan city, so the "steel roses" trained in the central Chinese city until January 22, before the epidemic worsened and the city was locked down.
"We understand the concern of the Queensland government, the media and local people over the risk of the coronavirus and will work closely with all stakeholders to fulfill all quarantine requirements," said Sun, who takes charge of all administrative work of the team.
"What I want to clarify is that we conducted close-door training in Wuhan back then, and players as well as staff barely connected with outsiders in the city," explained the women's football legend, adding that the team executed strong prevention measures throughout the training camp.
According to a CFA statement released on Thursday, the team moved to Suzhou, a city nearby Shanghai, for pre-match training after January 22 and then flew from Shanghai directly to Brisbane. Prior to departure to Australia, all team members passed a 2019-nCoV virus screening. "The examination result showed that all samples are negative," said the statement.
"We appreciate the support from FFA and the Queensland authorities. All the players and staff members are in good health, and we can only stay and eat in a separated floor in the hotel," Sun concluded their current living conditions. "Obviously there are difficulties, both in physical and mental, but our players are in good spirits."
The CFA top official also noted that inability to train is the team's biggest problem now and one that desperately needed to be solved. "We can't use the gym in the hotel, and are not allowed to conduct outdoor training until the local authorities approve."
"The CFA maintained close communication with the FFA, and they have taken lots of effort to help us find a suitable training camp. I am convinced that a solution will be found to ensure the team's pre-match training activities."
"Our team had the tradition to overcome adversities and gave all out. We organized a video analysis course in the hotel in the morning, and some of the players did practice in their rooms."
"For many of our girls this is their first time to play for an Olympic ticket, they would like to take on the challenges and to inspire all of the Chinese people who are fighting against the coronavirus at home with a solid performance on the field," Sun said with confidence.
The AFC women's football qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo consist of two groups, with South Korea hosting Vietnam and Myanmar in Group A. The top two teams from each qualifying group will advance to a play-off round to determine which two Asian teams will join hosts Japan at the Games.
China's football governing body confirmed on Wednesday that four players including star striker and key playmaker Wang Shuang will miss the competition after being affected by the country's ongoing nationwide coronavirus control. ■
